Improvement in step-ladder chairs



S. J. HARRISON.

STEP-LADDER cum.

11 ,133,924, Patented 0%.31, 1876.

PATENT QFFICE.

SAMUEL J. HARRISON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEP-LADDER CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,924, dated October 31, 1876; application filed August 26, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. HARRISON, of Boston, Suffolk county, Massachusetts, have made an invention of a new and useful Improvement in Library-Chairs, of which the following is a specification:

The purpose of this invention is to provide a chair, for libraries or other apartments, which may be readily converted into a stepladder, to enable access to be had to shelves or other elevated places which are inaccessible from an ordinary chair, the purpose of my invention being mainly to dispense with the use of step-ladders, as now generally practiced in houses.

My invention, which nowise detracts from an ornamental appearance, consists, first, in dividing the back of a chair horizontally, and bringing the upper portion or fly to the lower portion in such manner that the upper may be turned down into a horizontal position, and thereby constitute a step, while the seat of the chair constitutes a second. The lower step is a sliding one, and is combined with the lower part of the chair in such manner as, when needed, to be drawn forward into a position sufficiently in advance of the seat to enable a person to readily ascend to the latter, and when not needed to be pushed back to place beneath the seat.

,lhe drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Figure 1, an isometric elevation of a chair, embodying my improvement, in its ordinary condition. Fig. 2 is a like elevation, showing the chair as transformed into a step-ladder.

In the said drawings, A represents the general structure of the chair, which embodies my improvement, and which, in. the, present instance, is designed for a library, the seat of such chair being shown at B, its arms at U 0, its back at D, its legs at a a a a, and the crossbars or rounds of the latter at b b b.

I11 carrying my improvement into practice, I divide the back D of the chair horizontally, as shown at c, and I hinge the upper part (1, which is movable, to the lower and stationary part c, by hinges ff, the line 0 of division being in a planewith the upper surfaces of the arms 0, in order that the latter may constitute a support or foundation for the upper step, which is obtained by turning the portion or fly d down into a horizontal position upon the arms.

E in the drawings represents a frame or box, whose top may be upholstered or otherwise covered to correspond with the seat of the chair, or padded after the manner of footstools or hassocks in general use, such frame or box being disposed between the side legs of the chair, and combined therewith in such manner as to be readily drawn forward in front of the seat B, or pushed rearward beneath the latter.

When the fly d of the chair-back is erect, and the lower step or stool E pushed inward, a chairfor ordinary uses is presented. It a footstool is desired, the lower step E may be drawn outward in front of the seat, and the desired result accomplished. If a step-ladder is desired, the step E is drawn outward, as stated, and constitutes the lower one of the series, while the seat B of the chair constitutes the middle or second step. The fly d is now turned downward upon the arms 0 O, and provides the third or upper step.

A chair of the construction above described Will be found convenient and valuable in libraries and other apartments, for the reason that it may, while interfering in no degree with an ornamental effect, be readily converted into an efficient and very steady step-ladder, and thus avoid the labor and inconvenience incident to the use of the ordinary step-ladder.

Having thus explained the nature and use of my invention, I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

A chair having a horizontally-divided back, the upper part of which is hinged to the lower, and adapted to be turned down thereon to form a horizontal support above the seat, and a sliding or adjustable step beneath the seat, capable of being adapted to the purposes of a footstool or of a step, by the aid of which access is bad to the next step above.

SAMUEL J. HARRISON. Witnesses:

WM. ALDEN, M. BAILEY. 

